Work On Permanent Campus Of IISER In Odisha’s Berhampur Speeds Up; Likely To Open Next Year

Berhampur: Work on the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur is on in full swing and it is likely to be operational by January next year, said the institute’s Director Prof KVR Chary.

To speed up the work of the permanent campus, which is being built at an estimated Rs 242 crore, number of labourers will be increased from 1200 to more than 1500 soon, he added.

According to CPWD, 30 per cent of the work has ben completed so far. The academic-cum-administrative block, Boys Hostel 1, community centre, commercial complex, health care centre and dining hall are expected to be completed by December-end, they said.

The campus is being built on 200-acre land at Laoudigaon which was approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

IISER is presently functioning from Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Berhampur as the temporary or transit campus.

Prof Chary took over as ISSER-Berhampur Director in October 2017 and in May 2018 CPWD invited Suresh Goel and associates to be the architectural consultant for the project. In October 2018 the Union Cabinet approved DPR of IISER Berhampur.

Master plan of the campus, prepared by Suresh Goel and Associates in association with STUDIOS Architecture, was approved by the FC and BoG in December the same year. On December 24, 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the permanent campus.

In September 2019 CPWD awarded then construction work to NKG Infrastructure Ltd Delhi. Located on the sea front, the building material selected is resistant to salt from the ocean air.

The IISER has a faculty strength of 35, including three professors and 32 assistant professors while five more will be joining soon. The institute offers 124 courses through an academic programme. It will start courses in integrated five-year Master of Science degree as well as PhD programmes.